Green News | Green Glossary | Trade Show Initiatives

Sustainable Lecture Series Comes To Charleston

Lulan Artisans, designers and manufacturers of hand-woven textiles, has partnered with the City of Charleston to provide local residents and area visitors an opportunity to hear industry leaders discuss sustainability. “The Lulan Sustainability Community Lecture Series” will include topics ranging from green building and community affairs to city planning, global projects and education. The series began April 7 with a presentation given by Eric Corey Freed, principal of OrganicArchitect, who provided an overview of simple green remodeling strategies.

The series continues throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall on these dates:

• May 5, “How Conspicuous Consumption Could Save the World,” presented by Nate Garvis, vice president of government affairs for Target.
• September 22, “When Being Sustainable is a Matter of Survival,” presented by Cameron Sinclair, founder of Architecture for Humanity.
• October 21, “What’s a More-Sustainable City and How Do We Measure and Make Them,” presented by Warren Karlenzig, president of Common Current.
• November 18, “Design is the Problem and the Solution: The future of design must be sustainable,” presented by Nathan Shedroff, chair of MBA Design Strategy.

All lectures are held at the Charleston Visitor’s Center Theater, 375 Meeting St., with a reception to follow at the Lulan store, 469 King St. For details, visit www.lulan.com or call 843.722.0118.

A reception and book signing in the Lulan Sustainability retail store will follow each lecture.

Sea Gull Lighting Awarded EPA 2008 Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award

For the fourth time, Sea Gull Lighting Products, a Generation Brands company, has been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its commitment and promotion of Energy Star lighting and energy efficiency. Sea Gull Lighting received the honor for its efforts to actively develop, distribute, market and sell environmentally friendly lighting fixtures and ceiling fans reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Because of Sea Gull Lighting's continued commitment, the EPA has bestowed the additional designation of Sustained Excellence to Sea Gull Lighting for the second year in a row. Company representatives will accept the prestigious award at a ceremony to be held April 1st in Washington, D.C.

To learn more about Sea Gull Lighting’s more than 450 Energy Star decorative fixtures, visit www.generation-brands.com.

The Merchandise Mart Receives LEED Silver Certification

Chicago’s Merchandise Mart has earned the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Silver certification for existing buildings. LEED certification is the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high performance, green buildings. The certification provides a third-party verification that the building meets high environmental standards.

Buildings that earn LEED certification must meet criteria within five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The Mart’s journey toward LEED certification began in 2005 with a comprehensive analysis of the building’s practices. In July 2006, The Mart submitted its LEED application, and began to develop programs and policies to reach its green goals. The new procedures were implemented in early 2007.

Some of the Mart’s green practices, adopted to earn LEED certification, include employee and tenant education programs, recycling and water conservation resulting in saving 13,000 trees and 5.5 million gallons of water, motion-activated room lighting and retro-fitting exit lights to conserve energy.

Future goals at the Mart include installing more efficient plumbing fixtures, retro-fitting lighting fixtures, encouraging renewable and alternative energy sources, and eliminating the sources of indoor air pollution.

Visit the newly green www.merchandisemart.com/green to learn more.

Commuters exit Chicago's public transit system at the Merchandise Mart.	The Mart safely disposes of toxic chemicals without harming the environment.	The building's new Green Roof overlooks downtown Chicago.

CBK Commits To Recycling

CBK, a wholesaler of home décor, gifts and accessories, has reaffirmed itself as an active participant in the recycling programs sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation - Division of Solid Waste Management. CBK is one of a limited number of companies that produces their own packing materials on site. Each year the company recycles more than 44,000 pounds of cardboard, paper, plastic wrap, scrap metal, empty toner cartridges and even forklift batteries. The cardboard boxes and paper products are shredded, and used as packing for customer orders, as are plastic wrap and bubble wrap.

In addition to internal recycling of materials, CBK also keeps a “green” attitude when it comes to their product lines. Currently, there are more than 100 items available that are made from renewable resources like bamboo, wood and woven product. Materials like these grow quickly, ensuring the resource does not become depleted. CBK is striving to continuously add more eco-products to its upcoming lines.

For more information about CBK, visit www.cbkhome.com.

Greenheart Opens In Chicago

Greenheart, a fair trade retail store, opened its doors in November as the newest fair trade and eco-friendly gift and home accessory shop in Chicago. The shop, located in the River North neighborhood just north of downtown, features mostly gifts, bath and body items, and home accessories handmade by artisans. The store also stocks local, handmade items produced with sustainable resources. All of the handcrafted items in the store are fairly traded and/or eco-friendly.

Products include jewelry, bowls, stationery, bath and body, kitchen accessories and home accents. More importantly, each product allows the artisan to support themselves and their family. Additionally, creating these items helps preserve traditional craft techniques and provides critical economic empowerment to the artisans and their communities. McKinley Adams, ASID, designed Greenheart’s interior with eco-accents, creating an appealing and inviting shopping environment.

Greenheart is located at 746 N. LaSalle Street. Call 312.264.1625 for store hours.

Groovystuff Hires Sustainability Officer

Texas-based Groovystuff has hired a Sustainability Officer to audit all aspects of its supply chain. Sheryl Saxon has joined the company in the position and will be responsible for the accountability procedures required to reduce the environmental impact of the company’s product and carbon footprint. Saxon brings to the table an extensive background in ISO compliance and auditing experience from the health care industry. Among her many responsibilities, Saxon will supervise the chain of custody on all Groovystuff products for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) compliance.

Rowe Furniture Launches Eco-Rowe Collection, Commits To Sustainable Manufacturing Practices

Rowe Furniture, the Virginia-based furniture and home accent manufacturer, introduced a collection of furniture made with eco-friendly components at the Fall High Point Market. The “Eco-Rowe” products include the introduction of two new, eco-friendly cushions and 21 new 100 percent natural fiber fabrics. In addition, the company has stepped up efforts to make their manufacturing and business processes more earth-friendly.

The new initiatives are:

• Natural Fiber Fabrics, the gradual introduction of natural fiber content for the past several years, 21 natural fiber fabric introductions and the company’s first hemp textile.
• Eco-300CC cushion, the tailored cushion containing plant-based, renewable raw materials, is made in an almost emissions-free manufacturing process and contains organic, halogen-free fire retardants. Rowe’s high-resiliency foam core is used in designs where a more tailored styling is desirable.
• Eco-Down cushion, made of regenerated fiber, 100 percent natural cotton, bleach-free finishing process, and hypoallergenic duck feathers and down filling.
• Wood Frames, made of wood harvested from domestic forests, which are replenished.
• The Manufacturing Process, the company has reduced its facilities methanol emissions, introduced recycled packaging, increased by-product recycling, and encouraging employees and business partners to adopt environmentally friendly practices.

For more information please visit www.rowefurniture.com.

Harden Debuts Green Upholstery Line

Responding to consumer demand, Harden Furniture will debut eco-friendly upholstery at the Fall High Point Market, October 1-7. The eight fabric covers will be either organic, recycled or otherwise chemical-free.

From Craftex Mills’ Meridian Collection, Harden will offer its dealers and interior design customers a textured stripe made from post-consumer plastics and recycled cotton; from Cone Mills, another post-consumer product boasts a contemporary or transitional look in black and natural hues; and from Marlatex, Penley a 100 percent cotton woven is free of chemical finishes. Two new leathers in oyster and ebony, which use natural, recyclable dyes, will also be featured.

Harden’s new green line will be shown in the company’s permanent showroom at 200 N. Hamilton (South Court 110), as well as Harden’s exhibit in the EcoStyle Pavilion, located at the Suites at Market Square.

Visit www.harden.com for more information.